Improvement in cloth boots



M. CRANE.

improvement-in ClothBoots.

No. 132,387. Patented oct. 22,1872.

A the wearer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILO CRANE, OF EAST SOMEEVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ALEXIS TORREY, OF N ORTH WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTH BOOTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,387, dated October 22, 1872.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, Mimo CRANE, of East Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boots; and do hereby declare the, same to be fully described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l denotes a side elevation of a boot constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a central and longitudinal section; and Fig. 3, a transverse section taken through the instep-supporting band.

My invention is specially designed for that class of oper-a' boots in which the front or vamp portion is composed ot' two layers of cloth stitched or quilted together. The object of my invention is to remedy an objection incident to this class of boots as heretofore constructed.

It is a fact wellknown to boot-manufacturers and those who have worn boots of this peculiar character and construct-ion, that, owing to the stretchy or expanding nature of the cloth, the strain of the. instep upon the same while walking or in use soon so stretches or enlarges the cloth as to render the same loose and Happy, and thus causes the foot of the wearer to work or slip in the boot; such en- .largement not only injuring the appearance ot' the vboot but often causing great discomfort to My invention is intended to obviate these evils and preserve the boot in its normal proportions.

My invention consists in interposing between the layers of cloth, and so as to extend over the instep, a narrow supporting-band,

Y composed of a fabric or material capable of withstanding th thrust7 or strain of the instep, and thus maintain the integrity of the cloth and preserve the desired contour and shape of the boot.

In the said drawing, A denotes the sole, and B the heel, of the boot 5 C is the front of the leg portion; and D, the back thereof-such being formed in the usual manner of leather. E is the vam p or part which covers the instep and the frontal portion of the foot, .such part being connected with the leg part C in the ordinary way. The vamp is composed of two pieces of cloth, a b, which are to be quilted or stitched together. Before this operation Iinsert between the two portions (or the outer and the lining) a narrow band, c, (of about one inch in width) and so as to extend transversely across the vamp and directly over the crown or arch ot' the instep. This band I make of a fiexible non-elastic fabric, for instance webbing77 such as used forlboot-straps 5 or the same may be made oi' a material or materials possessing more or less elasticity 5 but in all cases the material or materials used should be of such nature as to resist the strain of the instep and preserve the cloth in, or approximately in, its normal state. As the method of uniting the upper and the soles does not differ from that ordinarily employed, no description thereof is deemed necessary.

I do not claim au overshoe or other covering' for the foot made of rubber, cloth, or other suitable material, combined with a spring united With the same, and arranged around or partly around the opening in the shoe, such being for the purpose vof allowing the material of which the shoe is composed to yield to the pressure of the foot when introduced into the shoe, and when on to spring back and clasp or t the t'oot, as I am aware that such is not new. Having described my invention, what I claim isy y As an improved article of manufacture an opera boot,77 provided with an instep -supporting band, of the character described, interposed between the outer and inner portions of the cloth vamp, substantially in manner and for the purpose hereinbefore stated.

MILO CRANE. vWitnesses:

F. P. HALE, F. O. HALE. 

